I have written many articles discussing evacuating hazardous materials from a piping system. Over my career, I learned that using an open-top container can have disastrous results. It may sound silly or petty, but when something fails in the tasks and the hazardous material erupts from the open-top container, making contact with the worker(s), you will begin to ask... is there a better way?
And I will bet someone will suggest a closed-top/bung-style container.
Keep in mind that this is NOT preventing the event/failure that makes a bung top drum a safety device, but it could be a protection layer and most certainly would be considered a mitigation layer should we have an eruption from the container. When using the bung style drum, remember to ALWAYS have it vented so as to not "launch" the drum, making it a hazard. We always used the 2" bung for our hose/sparger and the 0.5" bung for our "vent". These bung drums also slow the liberation of gas/vapors from our absorbent material (usually water or caustic).
So give it some consideration; it may just be the ticket for those unexpected "surges" caused by improper energy isolation or blockage breaking free in the piping.
The same application is used for 5-gallon containers such as "draining oil" from a refrigeration "oil pot" where sputtering is not uncommon. But remember, VENTING is critically important. We can lay a rag over the vent to reduce splash/sputter from the opening; it can also help reduce odors and off-gassing - BUT NEVER BLOCK the vent with any mechanical device or leave it plugged/closed.
